SAWS should further study year-round watering restrictions

Express-News Editorial Board

Published 4:58 pm, Thursday, December 8, 2016

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER /Marvin Pfeiffer / Express-News

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SAWS officials have made a compelling argument about why year-round watering restrictions are not an effective way to conserve water. But City Councilman Ron Nirenberg and numerous others have questioned this. It’s not unreasonable to ask for further, independent study. less

SAWS officials have made a compelling argument about why year-round watering restrictions are not an effective way to conserve water. But City Councilman Ron Nirenberg and numerous others have questioned this. ... more

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER /Marvin Pfeiffer / Express-News

SAWS should further study year-round watering restrictions

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San Antonio Water System owes ratepayers additional study on year-round watering restrictions, but it shouldn’t stop there.

The utility should also develop a list of new conservation strategies as alternatives to year-round watering restrictions. This dual approach would ensure that, in light of the Vista Ridge pipeline, SAWS is proactively — and publicly — taking new steps to conserve precious water.

Before SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente calls to complain, let’s be clear: As utilities go, SAWS has an outstanding reputation for conservation.

SAWS officials have made a compelling argument why year-round watering restrictions are not an effective way to conserve water. But City Councilman Ron Nirenberg and numerous others have questioned this. It’s not unreasonable to ask for further, independent study.

An independent study would give clarity. Meanwhile, compiling a list of conservation alternatives would provide a meaningful policy backstop should the independent study confirm SAWS’ analysis. It’s all about options.

This is important. The region is incredibly drought-prone, and SAWS has plowed ahead with the controversial Vista Ridge pipeline, which will begin delivering more than 16 billion gallons of water per year in 2020. It’s a project we support, but such an expensive project also highlights the need for additional conservation and a change in habits. It’s not an excuse to keep wasting water.

For example, one of the concerns about year-round watering restrictions is that it would kill lawns. But this has it backward. Forget about the restrictions for a moment; it doesn’t make a lot of sense to embrace landscaping or lawns here that can’t survive a drought. What is the best way to continue shifting that mindset?

SAWS has done a wonderful job of promoting conservation. This is an excellent opportunity for the utility to further those efforts, with or without a watering restriction.